Department of Transportation April 3, 2015 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The FAA is proposing that safety information provided to it by Federal Contract Tower employees (hereinafter ``Vendor'') under the SAFER-FCT Program or by Air Traffic Organization Engineers & Architects, Staff Support Specialists, Aviation Technical System Specialists (Series 2186) and Flight Procedures Team (hereinafter ``Region X'') under the ATSAP-X program be designated by an FAA Order as protected from public disclosure in accordance with the provisions of 14 CFR part 193. The designation is intended to encourage persons to voluntarily provide information to the FAA under the SAFER-FCT or the ATSAP-X safety reporting programs, so the FAA can learn about and address aviation safety hazards of which it was unaware or more fully understand and implement corrective measures for events known by it through other means. Under 49 U.S.C. 40123, the FAA is required to protect information from disclosure to the public, including disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act (5 U.S.C. 552) or other laws, following the issuance of such Order.

The FMCSA specifies inflation adjustments to civil penalty amounts assessed to those who violate the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs) and Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMRs). Some of these adjustments are required by the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act of 1990 (Adjustment Act), as amended by the Debt Collection Improvement Act of 1996 (DCIA). Most of the civil penalties were last adjusted for inflation in 2007, and some have not been changed since 2003. Other changes to the civil penalties were mandated by Congress in the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP-21). This final rule ensures that FMCSA's civil penalties are consistent with the applicable statutes.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, FMCSA announces its plan to submit the Information Collection Request (ICR) described below to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for its review and approval. The FMCSA seeks approval to revise an ICR titled, ``Licensing Applications for Motor Carrier Operating Authority,'' that is used by for-hire motor carriers of regulated commodities, motor passenger carriers, freight forwarders, property brokers, and certain Mexico-domiciled motor carriers to register their operations with the FMCSA. The agency invites public comment on the ICR.

As part of its continuing effort to streamline the process to seek feedback from the public on agency service delivery, and as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, 44 U.S.C. 3501-3519 (PRA), the Surface Transportation Board (STB or Board) gives notice that it is requesting from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval of the collection, Application to Open a Billing Account. The Board previously published a notice about this collection in the Federal Register on January 28, 2015, at 80 FR 4634. That notice allowed for a 60-day public review and comment period. No comments were received. Comments may now be submitted to OMB concerning: (1) The accuracy of the Board's burden estimates; (2) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information collected; (3) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on the respondents, including the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology, when appropriate; and (4) whether this collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the Board, including whether the collection has practical utility.

BMW of North America, LLC, (BMW) a subsidiary of BMW AG in Munich, Germany, has determined that certain Model year (MY) 2015 BMW model X5 xDrive35i and model X5 xDrive35d multipurpose passenger vehicles (MPV) do not fully comply with paragraph S4.3.3 of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 110, Tire Selection and Rims and Motor Home/Recreation Vehicle Trailer Load Carrying Capacity Information for Motor Vehicles with a GVWR of 4,536 kilograms (10,000 pounds) or less. BMW has filed an appropriate report dated October 22, 2014, pursuant to 49 CFR part 573, Defect and Noncompliance Responsibility and Reports.

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) published a 30-Day Notice of Request for Comments in the Federal Register on March 17, 2015 Vol. 80 No. 51 entitled; ``49 U.S.C. 5335(a) and (b) National Transit Database Program.'' The notice contained an incorrect estimated total annual burden on respondents. This document corrects that error.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Rolls-Royce plc (RR) RB211-524 turbofan engines with certain part number (P/N) low-pressure turbine (LPT) stage 3 turbine blades installed. This AD requires implementation of a life limit for certain P/N LPT stage 3 turbine blades and replacement of affected blades that reach or exceed the life limit. This AD was prompted by reports of LPT stage 3 turbine blade failures, release of blades, and subsequent in- flight shutdowns. We are issuing this AD to prevent failure of LPT stage 3 turbine blades and subsequent release of blade debris, which could lead to failure of one or more engines, loss of thrust control, and damage to the airplane.